Walk down to your local park on a Saturday morning and it doesn't take long to find children dreaming of emulating their NRL heroes in front of packed stadiums.
Bailey Hayward and Lipoi Hopoi know the conversation well. They were once those kids who in between playing for the St George Dragons in the Canterbury-Bankstown Junior Rugby League competition sat around talking about how they would one day play for the Bulldogs together.
Fast forward to 2024 and their dream has become reality, with both players making their NRL debuts this season.
"I grew up in Campsie so me and all my mates went to [Bulldogs] Belmore games growing up," Hopoi told pan66.com. "We all looked up to Josh Reynolds and all the younger boys that came through locally.
"I've grown up playing with Bailey my whole life, I couldn't believe it when he made his debut. When I made mine, we both couldn't believe it."
Hayward made his NRL debut in round six and will line up in his ninth match in the top flight in Monday's King's Birthday clash with the Eels. The teams will play for the i4Give Cup, created in memory of Sienna, Angelina and Antony Abdallah, and Veronique Sakr who died in a horrific car crash in Oatlands in 2020.
Match: Bulldogs v Eels
Round 14 -
home Team
Bulldogs
11th Position
away Team
Eels
14th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Hopoi's maiden appearance came in last week's victory over the Knights, with a second to come on Monday.
The debut came just eight months after he led the Bulldogs to the 2023 Jersey Flegg premiership and was a reward for a string of impressive performances in NSW Cup.
While Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has long viewed Hopoi as a future first-grader, the man himself didn't anticipate it would come this quickly.
"Ciro asked me early in the week when I was going to be ready and I told him next year," Hopoi said.
"That's when he told me [I would be debuting]. He said 'you better think sooner because I think it's going to be a lot closer than you think'."
The pair's dream of playing NRL together was first formulated more than a decade ago when they started playing for the Dragons Under-5's team.
Hayward and Hopoi have been close ever since despite travelling different paths to the NRL.
Hayward is a year older and largely played in the halves growing up. Despite playing his club footy in the Canterbury district, he played Harrold Matthews and SG Ball for the Roosters before taking a break from the game.
Just four months after stepping away, he knew he wanted to return and was lured back to Belmore by Bulldogs assistant coach Luke Vella.
"I lost the love for the game a little bit," Hayward told pan66.com. "It wasn't long, maybe four mounts before it grew back and I knew this is what I wanted to do.
"I haven't looked back since then. [Coming back to the Bulldogs] is one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Hopoi remained with the Bulldogs through his junior representative years culminating in last year's Jersey Flegg success.
Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final - Bulldogs v Roosters
His first pre-season with the top squad wasn't easy but he pushed through and eventually came out the other side.
Despite now being an NRL player, the youngster still has to pinch himself when he walks into work at Belmore Oval, a ground he grew up watching his heroes play.
"I thought I was doing the pre-season then going back to play [NSW] Cup," Hopoi said. "It's still crazy for me.
"Even though I train with these boys every day, I still think how am I doing this?"
Having known Hopoi since he was five, Hayward has watched the forward develop into the player he is today.
There have been plenty of challenges and a fair bit of pressure to succeed, but Hopoi has overcome all of them to reach the top flight.
Now, Hayward said, the goal is to ensure they both enjoy long and successful careers with the Bulldogs.
Bailey Hayward Try
"It was pretty special [playing together]," Hayward said. "Playing our whole junior football together from five-years-old is very special.
"He always had the talent, he's worked hard, so to see him achieve and fulfil his dream as well as his family's, it means a lot."
